Organizational History:

The Program for Local Government Education (PLGE) at Washington State University was established in April 1989, assisted by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Its purpose was to increase educational support for local elected and government officials in smaller jurisdictions in the State of Washington. The two principal means sought by PLGE were training opportunities for local government officials in the areas of leadership strategies, administration and decision making and issue analyses concerning problems faced by smaller local government jurisdictions. PLGE formalized a working relationship between Washington State University (Cooperative Extension and Division of Governmental Studies and Services) and the three principal local government associations: the Association of Washington Cities, the Washington Association of County Officials and the Washington State Association of Counties. The primary decision-making body of the PLGE was the Policy Council, composed of eight local government representatives, three association staff and three WSU faculty.